Slain teen’s mom wants cellphone search law in RI

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) – The mother of an 18-year-old woman murdered in Kansas is traveling to Rhode Island to urge lawmakers here to pass a law requiring cellphone providers to provide data about the location of a missing person’s phone.

Missy Smith is scheduled to address lawmakers Thursday on why she believes the proposal would help police find missing people. The legislation would compel cellphone companies to provide information on a phone’s whereabouts if police determine the person is in danger.

Smith’s daughter Kelsey was abducted and murdered in 2007. Her cellphone provider initially refused to give police data on the location of her phone, information that ultimately led officers to her body.